The Hero's Way

Walking with Garibaldi from Rome to Ravenna

By: Tim Parks

Narrated by: Roger May

In the summer of 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy's legendary revolutionary, was finally forced to abandon his defense of Rome. He and his men had held the besieged city for four long months, but now it was clear that only surrender would prevent slaughter and destruction at the hands of a huge French army.

Against all odds, Garibaldi was determined to turn defeat into moral victory. On the evening of July 2, riding alongside his pregnant wife, Anita, he led 4,000 hastily assembled men to continue the struggle for national independence elsewhere. Hounded by both French and Austrian armies, the garibaldini marched hundreds of miles across the Appenines, Italy's mountainous spine, and after two months of skirmishes and adventures arrived in Ravenna with just 250 survivors.

Best-selling author Tim Parks, together with his partner, Eleonora, set out in the blazing summer of 2019 to follow Garibaldi and Anita's arduous journey through the heart of Italy. In The Hero's Way he delivers a superb travelogue that captures Garibaldi's determination, creativity, reckless courage, and profound belief. And he provides a fascinating portrait of Italy then and now, filled with unforgettable observations of Italian life and landscape, politics, and people.

©2021 Tim Parks (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Interactive book

This was a great book that allowed you to almost experience Garibaldi, Anita, and the 1,000 along their march to Revena, by referencing history as the author and his wife hike along the way. The descriptions of now vs then were nice. Also, it’s interesting to follow along with your google map and pin the spots.

An interesting parallel

Walking for hundreds of km in the footsteps of Garibaldi chased by 2 foreign armies

You cannot complain it’s too hot or the road is full of cars in your new trail shoes if you think those guys did it all with awful equipment and perpetually chased

If you truly like history and adventure it’s the book for you
If you like to imagine what those people must have felt and thought along this desperate adventure, download this book. If you are after a thick plot with a lot of Lord of the rings like battles and departures from reality do not download it. History is what it is.

Extremely interesting journey

The idea was fantastic and adventurous, to follow Garibaldi and his army from Rome to Ravenna. On foot only and almost 200 years later, in the same season though.
I lived both in Roma and Ravenna, and know most of the places, hence it has been more engaging. I could also envision the people Tim Parks and his wife Eleonora encountered along the way. It would ave been interesting if there was also a documentary, to see the pictures they took with comments.
I truly enjoyed listening to the narration by Roger May, who pronounces very well the Italian names and cities (although the accent is often on the wrong syllable :) )

Interesting in parts, tedious in the end

The appeal of the book grows at first. But as one keeps reading, the picture of Garibaldi becomes simplistic and the trips of the couple monotonous.